Dig Out Your Soul, the seventh studio album from loudmouthed Mancunians Oasis, is released tomorrow. In an attempt to raise interest in the band’s latest collection of recycled Beatles/Lennon riffs, Noel Gallagher has once again been stirring up trouble in the media. The latest band to trouble the older Gallagher brother is Keane, the sub-Coldplay British rockers whom Noel has previously branded “twats."

Now Noel says of Keane’s vaunted new direction: “No matter what direction Keane take, it doesn't matter - they'll still be shit." In contrast, he heaps praise on fellow blogger Bono, of whom he says: “People will not accept that Bono is sincere - in this cynical age, they think he's really just a cunt. But he's not." And Noel doesn’t stop there in his praise. He also talks up U2, saying: "I fucking love U2 and I always have done - I love the size of that band. Whether you like them or not, you cannot deny that U2 have written some great fucking songs.”

In an amusing footnote to the hype surrounding Dig Out Your Soul, parallels have been drawn between Oasis and ageing Christian rocker Cliff Richard. The melody of the second song on the record, “The Turning,” bears a remarkable resemblance to Richard’s 1976 hit “Devil Woman.” Although in a side-by-side comparison between the two, the Richard song sounds a lot less labored than the Gallager brothers’ latest effort. You can judge for yourself by listening to the two songs here and here. [via NME]